Dale County Helicopter Crew Visits WCC Students

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jul 23 2015 2:14 PM

Dothan, Ala. – A group of Wallace Community College Criminal Justice (CRJ) students recently experienced a larger-than-life piece of equipment that is critical to law enforcement efforts – a helicopter. Reserve Dale County Sheriff’s Deputy Ty Powell and Tactical Officer Deputy Bob Andrews of the Dale County Aviation Unit landed the helicopter in front of the baseball field at the Wallace Campus in Dothan, where the students were given the opportunity to inspect the craft and ask the experienced officers about the role of the helicopter in law enforcement. 
 
Seth Brown, CRJ adjunct instructor, remarked that his students were impressed by the aircraft and the technology that is used to support law enforcement. “The Wiregrass area is very fortunate to have this aircraft available to assist them at any time, and we are greatly appreciative to the Sheriff and to these pilots who took their training time today to fly to the campus and talk to our criminal justice students about aviation’s role in law enforcement,” said Brown. Brown, who teaches the CRJ116 course (Police Patrol), is also WCC’s Chief of College Police. 
 
The students asked the officers detailed questions about the aircraft, and learned how the helicopter crew can communicate with officers on the ground, saving time –and lives– by using their aerial-view advantage. “The helicopter simply amazed me,” said student Tanasia Hodge-Bryant. “Watching it land and take off was a sight to behold, and hearing the passion in the pilot's voice as he explained what he does and how much he loves it makes me want to learn to fly one as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and hope that we'll see them again.”
 
The crew is so dedicated to the mission of the Aviation Unit that they volunteer, along with other pilots, for on-call rotations.  
 
After class, the appreciative students congregated from a safe distance and watched the helicopter and the two pilots lift off and return to training for their next mission. 

 (left to right) Dale County Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Andrews, Clayton Hughes, Starla Harding, Alexis Palm, Melanie Knight, Matthew Malin, Jessica Wheeler, Tanasia Hodge-Bryant, Dallas Wray, WCC Instructor Seth Brown, and Deputy Ty Powell.

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